 "PV Sindhu returns to top of podium after two years by winning Syed Modi International Tournament")
Top-seeded Indians PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen showcased their class and dominance to clinch the women’s and men’s singles titles respectively at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament in Lucknow on Sunday.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, ended her long title drought by outplaying China’s world number 119 Wu Luo Yu 21-14, 21-16 to lift the trophy for the third time, having previously triumphed in 2017 and 2022.
In the men’s singles final, Lakshya, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, was at his dominant best as he demolished Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh 21-6, 21-7 in the title clash, displaying complete command over the match.
Sindhu’s victory marks her return to the top of the podium after over two years, with her last title win coming at the Singapore Open in July 2022. The world number 18 also reached the finals of the Malaysia Masters Super 500 earlier this year.
Lakshya’s win comes as a balm after a disappointing loss in the bronze-medal playoff at the Paris Olympics. The victory will undoubtedly boost his confidence ahead of the new season.
Indian badminton had more to celebrate on the day as the women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand clinched their maiden Super 300 title with a convincing 21-18, 21-11 win over China’s Bao Li Jing and Li Qian.
The result made Treesa and Gayatri the first Indian women’s doubles team to win the title at this tournament. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallists, who had finished runners-up in 2022, went one step further this year with their solid performance.
In the men’s doubles final, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K put up a valiant fight before going down 14-21, 21-19, 17-21 to China’s Huang Di and Liu Yang in a marathon 71-minute clash.
Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles final, fifth seeds Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila started strong but couldn’t sustain their momentum, losing 21-18, 14-21, 8-21 to Thailand’s sixth-seeded pair of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran.
Sindhu vs Wu
Sindhu was up 8-5 in the opening game and despite some resistance from Wu, the Indian managed to secure a two-point lead at 11-9. Sindhu changed gears after the break, surging to 15-10 and then kept a firm grip on the rallies to comfortably close out the opening game.
Sindhu opened strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead, but Wu quickly levelled the score and matched the Indian point-for-point till 10-10. The Chinese left-hander troubled Sindhu with precise drops, earning a slender 11-10 lead at the break.
Top seed Pusarla V. Sindhu 🇮🇳 contests Wu Luo Yu 🇨🇳 for the crown on home soil.#BWFWorldTour #SyedModi2024 pic.twitter.com/E2LcFPPqZX
— BWF (@bwfmedia) December 1, 2024
After resumption, Sindhu shifted gears, drawing errors from Wu and regaining control with a 14-11 lead courtesy of a sharp straight smash. A bodyline smash further extended her lead to 15-11, as Wu misjudged the length on several occasions.
Sindhu’s disguised forehand return at a crucial juncture brought her closer to victory, earning her four match points. She sealed the title with a powerful smash, capping off a dominant performance.
Lakshya vs Jia
Lakshya, 23, was in a hurry to wrap up the proceedings, storming to a massive 8-0 lead early in the first game. Lakshya’s fast-paced game left Teh struggling, with the Singaporean committing a series of unforced errors.
Two aggressive returns helped Teh claim a couple of points, but Lakshya quickly regained control, securing seven game points at the interval. The Indian then won nine of the next 10 points to wrap up the first game in quick time.
Super-human defence from Lakshya Sen! 🤯@HSBC_Sport#HSBCbadminton #BWFWorldTour #SyedModi2024 pic.twitter.com/z6mUo6LSWb
— BWF (@bwfmedia) December 1, 2024
Lakshya maintained his relentless attack in the second game, racing to a commanding 10-1 lead at the mid-game interval. Teh, demoralized and unable to match Lakshya’s pace and precision, found himself on the backfoot throughout.
The Indian extended his lead to 15-5, and even when Teh tried to mount a comeback with a flurry of strokes, Lakshya’s impeccable defense and fitness shone through. At 16-7, the Indian showcased his versatility, mixing powerful down-the-line smashes with cross-court net shots to reach 20-7.
The match ended with Teh sending a shot long, handing Lakshya his first Syed Modi International title.
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